Process of making photographs



1939- s. N. PIFER PROCESS OFMAKING PHOTOQRAPiHS Original Filed Aug. '7, 1935- I 1N VENTOR. 6504 65 N. P/FEE ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, i939 I Q I Q UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFlCE PROCESS OF MAKING PHOTOGRAPHS George N. Plfer, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor'to Speedtype, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a 'corporation of Ohio,

Application August 7, 1935,1Serial No. 35,068

Renewed April 11, 1939 2 Claims. (c 95-88) ,This invention relates to a process of making exposure to light, and on the other hand;- the photographs by the atomizing or spraying methcontaminating sulphur and sulfld treatment. d, and has particular reference to a-process for This, in turn, necessarily reduces the washing use in automatic photographing machines having and the rinsing operations, and, with the aid' oi.

i5 the atomizing and spraying features disclosed the aerated developing solutions discharged from 5 in my prior Patents Nos. 1,682,931, 1,728,361, and the nozzle of the atomizer, speeds up the manipu- 1,751,881, and in my pending application filed lation for quick completion of the positive pic- December 5, 1934, Serial No. 756,098, the present ture and its delivery fromthe automatic photoinvention being an improvement over the method graphing machine if the invention is used in and the manipulation of chemicals in developing connection therewith.

the photographic image. v My improved process is as follows:

Positive images are produced in automatic When the exposed sensitized surface (which photographing machines by two well known may be any of the usual silver salts, such as methods, viz., the exposed sensitized surface is bromide of silver) is first developed, the atomizer developed into a negative image which is reversed next applies a quick superficial wash. Then into a positive by removing the developed porthere is applied a diluted solution of sulphuric tions with acids which will not afiect the unacid and a suitable oxidizing agent, such as peraltered or unexposed portions, the latter then bemanganate of potash or bichromate oi potash, to ing again exposed to actinic light and redevelremove the developed image, followed by a quick 2o oped, or the latter may be transformed by the superficial rinse, if desired, and then a suitable well known sulphide method without the aid of stain removing solution is quickly applied, such as reexposure to light by treating the unreduced a hypo solution of sodium thiosulphate; while silver portions with a sulphide solution, which there still remains traces of hypo on'the surproduces the final and positive image. face of the film which already is permeated with The objects of the present invention or of my acid and the oxidizing agent, the developer is 25 improved method are, first, to eliminate the reagain quickly applied, and this, by combining exposure to light, and, second, to eliminate the with the traces of the acid solution and hypo, use of the sulphide solution with its contaminatchemically fogs, blackens, and redevelops the ing characteristics and to substitute a chemical remaining bromide of silver without reexposure fogging or blackening action to produce the final to light. Preferably there is no intervening wash 30 image. between the application ofthe clearing solution In my pendingapplication above referred to, and the second application'of the developer. there is disclosed in the atomizing and spraying The process will be. more clearly understood in device or mechanism a mixing cell and mechaniconnection with the accompanying drawing which cal means by which the diiferent solutions in shows diagrammatically how the te zing or 35 atomized condition can be superposed upon each Sp y qu p may be used advanta e us y other in quick succession. This mechanism and in applyin t di n so uti t the p s d the method utilized therewith are preferably emsensitized surface. f ployed in carrying out the present invention. The solutions are supplied from suitable re- 40 As is well known, the usual manipulation in ceptacles designated l, 2, 3, and 4 which are con- 40 reversing a negative image into a positive picnected by flexible tubes A, B, C, and D to a mix- 'ture includes the use of an alkaline developer, ing chamber or cell 5 having an outlet 5a. Air

an acid with an oxidizing agent. and a sulphite is supplied from a conduit 6 connected to a presof soda clearing solution which is applied after sure pump through a nozzle 1 which is arranged the bleaching action of the acid to remove the in proximity to the orifice at the upper end of 45 discoloration produced by the acid. In common the outlet 5a of the cell so as to direct a stream practice, where the exposed. sensitized card surof air immediately over and across the orifice of face is immersed in successive baths, it is esthe outlet. The receptacles l, 2, 3, and l-may be sential to wash or rinse the surface between the assumed to contain, respectively, the developer,

5 several immersions so as not to contaminate one water, the acid bleach, and the hypo. solution with the other or else the staining or Normally, the flexible tubes A, B, C, and D are fogging action will result and the" solutions will closed by any suitable mechanical closing means, deteriorate. It is precisely this fogging action and whenever a. solution is to be drawn from a which is here used to redevelop the positive imreceptacle into the cell and discharged in a spray age, .on the one hand dispensing with the reor aerated condition-onto the exposed sensitized 55 for the tube leading to a given receptacle is released from the tube-so as to allow the solution to be drawn up through the tube into the cell by the suction created by the stream of air passing from the nozzle 1. Then the tube is again immediately closed. If the present process is used in an automatic photographing machine, I prefer to use for opening and closing the tubes the mechanism shown-in my application Serial No.

756,098, this mechanism including cam controlled rollers which move in one direction to compress and close the tubes and in. the reverse direction to open them. In the accompanying drawing the opening and closing means is indicated conventionally by an ordinary hand manipulated clip designated 9 one of which can be applied to each tube.

It is obvious that, if the closing means for only one of the solution tubes is released, that one solution only is. applied to the sensitized surface, but if more than one closing means is released or set free at the same time, the solutions from the corresponding receptacles will be drawn up into 5 the mixing chamber and there intermixed, and in that mixed condition will be applied to the sensitized surface.

To make a picture by my improved reversing method, assuming that the film or card containing the sensitized medium has been exposed and automatically or otherwise placed in developing position with reference to the nozzle 1, tube A connected to receptacle l containing the developing solution, which is the usual alkaline developer, is released for application onto the sensitized surface of the film or card in the form of 1 an atomized spray. One of the developers which might be used in carrying out my improved reversing method consists of the following:

Caustic so ces" 1% Sulphite of so do 4 Hydroquinone do 1 Metol (mono-methyl-para-amino-p h e n o lsulphate) (CHJNHCGHOH)3HO4 V 7 grams" 160 Potassium bromide do so Water ces..- 64

when the surface is sufficiently far 7 developed, tube A is closed, and tube 3 is opened, causing water to be drawn from receptacle 2 and applied to the surface as a spray, thus giving the surface a quick rlhse. The solution from receptacle 3 surface, which is designated I, the closing means- "hypo solution from receptacle 4 which is then sprayed or atomized onto the sensitized surface and, simultaneously or before the-fhypo" is actually shut off, the tube leading from receptacle i is again opened or released, causing developing solution to be again sprayed onto the surface 8 to redevelop the image. Then the rinsing spray is again applied to the surface after the tube supplying the second application of developer has been shut off or closed and the positive picture is completed.

It will be seen that by this modus operandi or manipulation the, second development takes place in the presence of the "hypo which is still present in the mixingcell. That is to say, a mixture of the developer and the "hypo is applied to the film or sensitized surface, and this application of the developer with some of the hypo is made onto the sensitized surface with the latter still in an acidified condition. This produces a blacken- ,ing or fogging action on the unreduced salt remaining in the sensitized surface without a sec-. ond exposure to light, and this forms or constitutes the final and positive image.

a While I have explained the preferred method of carrying out the invention and certain preferred chemicals, I do not desire to be confined to the precise details of the process nor to'the particular chemicals mentioned, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications'which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. The process of producing a photograph which comprises applying a developing solution to the exposed sensitized surface, then applying an acid bleaching solution thereto, partially re moving said bleaching solution, then applying a hypo solution, and then without an intervening washing of the surface and while the same is in an acid condition and without exposure to light, applying a developing solution thereto in the presence of the "hypo" solutionwhich mixes with the developing solution and acts as an accelerator therefor.

2. The process of producing a photograph which comprises applying a developing solution to the exposed sensitized surface, then applying an acid bleaching solution thereto, partially removing said bleaching solution, then applying a hypo solution to said surface by atomizatio and then without an intervening washing of the surface and while the same is in an acid condition and without exposure to light applying a developing solution thereto in the presence of the hypo" solution which mixes with the developing solution and acts as an accelerator therefor.

GEORGE N. PIPER. 

